Shot gun shell



Sept. 14, 1965 J. ,G. BARRICK 3,205,819

SHOT GUN SHELL Filed May 5, 1964 INVENTOR. JAMES G. BARRICK ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,205,819 SHOT GUN SIELL James Garth Banish, 502 Jefferson St, Ossian, Ind. Filed May 5, 1964, Ser. No. 365,030 6 Claims. (Cl. 102-42) The present invention relates to a shot gun shell and more particularly to a tubular case which may be reloaded and fired several times before the case must be discarded.

Shot gun shells conventionally have cases which are fabricated of cardboard and have shot and powder encased therein. The mouth end of the case is sealed by means of a wad or the like which covers this shot charge and is held in place by means of folding or crimping the cardboard case inwardly against the wad. When the shell is fired, the wad is forced outwardly and the inwardly crimped end of the case is straightened so as to provide a circumferential seal between the case and the breech of the gun. In some instances, the mouth end of the case Where it had been crimped tears ofl in whole or in part thereby leaving the case irreparably damaged so that it cannot be reloaded and used again.

It is conventional in the art for enthusiasts to reload their own ammunition. The cardboard cases of fired cartridges are repacked with the necessary charges and primers with the distal ends of the cases being again crimped inwardly to secure a new wad in place. It is common knowledge that reloading of a cardboard case can only occur two or three times before the abovementioned mutilation of the crimped end occurs to a degree rendering the case unusable. It is, of course, desirable to extend the reloading life of a case inasmuch as new ammunition is more expensive to the enthusiast than is ammunition which he reloads himself. More recently, enthusiasts with this desire of extending the life of shot gun shell cases have used polyethylene cases. However, polyethylene is not heat resistant and is flammable; and therefore, polyethylene cases do not have a measurably longer life than the cardboard cases previously used.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a shot gun shell having a case which is reloadable after a multiplicity of firings without impairing the ballistic efficiency thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide a shot gun shell having a case which may be reloaded a multiplicity of times and which provides a positive seal in the breech of a gun with each firing whereby the propelling gases work efliciently against the shot column.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a shot gun shell having a case which is formed of a flexible and heat-resistant plastic which fulfills all of the requirements of the enthusiast.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a uniquely formed plastic wad which when used in combination with the shot gun shell case of this invention provides a means for retaining the wad in the case Without crimping or folding the end of the case; thereby increasing the life of the case.

In accordance with the broader aspects of this invention, there is provided a shot gun shell comprising a tubular case which is formed of a flexible, self-supporting and heat-resistant material and a closure wad formed of the same material. The closure wad has a circumferential groove formed in the perimetral edge thereof defining a pair of pliable lips between the groove and the opposite side surfaces of the wad. The wad is positioned in the case contiguous to the shot charge with the perimetral lips bent upwardly toward the mouth end of the case upon insertion, thereby resiliently forming a seal between the wad and the case.

Patented Sept. 14, 1965 The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein the figures are drawn to scale and each dimension is twice its actual size:

FIG. 1 is an axial sectional illustration of the shot gun shell of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional illustration of the shot gun case of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a surface view of the wad of this invention; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the wad of FIG. 3 taken along the section line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, a tubular shot gun shell case 10 is fabricated of a tough, flexible, non-brittle and heat resistant plastic which is also non-flammable. Polypropylene such as that sold by the Eastman Chemical Products, Inc., a subsidiary of Eastman Kodak Company under the trademark Tenite and the formula No. 5C2l as disclosed in their brochure MB16A has proven satisfactory. The case 10 is provided with opposite ends 12, 14, an axis 16, and a conventional priming cap 18. Case 10 is conventionally loaded with a powder charge 20, two felt wads 22 and a shot charge 24. A disc-shaped wad 26 is packed against the shot charge 24 in such a manner that the wad is at right angles to the axis 16 of case 10. The outer edge 28 of the case 10 at the mouth end 12 is rounded to provide for easy insertion into and ejection from the gun. The radius that is preferred is substantially equal to the thickness of the case 10.

Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 3 and 4, the wad 26 is disc-shaped and made of a plastic material. This plastic material is preferably the plastic material hereinabove described. Wad 26 has opposite end surfaces 30, 32 and a peripheral edge 34. Formed in the edge 34, is a peripheral groove 36 which has, in cross-section, angular side portions 38, 40 disposed at an approximate forty-five degree inclination from the end surfaces 30, 32, respectively. Surfaces 38, 40 meet at the deepest penetration of groove 36 at a position 42. Groove 36 and end surfaces 30, 32 define two pliable, perimetral lips 44 and 46, respectively.

In a specific embodiment, the case 10 has an inside diameter of .735 inch and a length of 2.563 inches and a wall thickness of .030 inch; wad 26 has a thickness of .100 inch, and has an outer lip diameter which is .025 inch larger in diameter than the inside diameter of the case 10; and groove 36 has a measurement from the perimetral edge 34 to the deepest penetration 42 of .020 inch.

In operation, case 10 is first loaded with a charge of powder 20 which is held in place by two disc-shaped felt wads 22. Contiguous to the last-inserted felt wad 22 is placed a shot charge 24. The description of the loading of the shot gun shell case 10 up to this point is conventional in all respects. The wall thickness of the case 10 is preferably uniform from the mouth end 12 to the location of the powder 20 so as to provide the necessary uniform outside diameter of case 10 and still have the provision of using conventional loading materials such as the wad 22. In other words, the diametral dimensions of case 10 should be constant from mouth end 12 to the location of powder 20.

Wad 26 is now inserted into the case 10 from the mouth end 12 in such a manner so as to position the wad 26 contiguous to the shot charge 24 and perpendicular to the axis 16 of case 10. The wad 26 has an outside diameter which is preferably larger than the inside diameter of case 10. This selection of diameters provides that when the wad as is properly inserted into the case the perimetral lips 44, 4-6 are bent upwardly toward the mouth end 12 thereby resiliently providing a seal between the wad 26 and the case 10. It has been found that the wad 26 of the specific dimensions hereinabove mentioned is most preferable if its outside diameter is .025 inch larger than the inside diameter of case 10. The relative dimensions of wad 26 are critical. If the wad 26 is too thin, the wad is only with great difliculty properly inserted against the shot column in a position perpendicular to axis 16 of the case 10. When the wad 26 is properly dimensioned, the coaction between the perimetral lips 44, 46, which are in intimate contact with the side surface of the case 10 in a spaced apart position, have the property of tending to maintain the seal at right angles to the case 10. It is imperative that the wad 26 be properly positioned during insertion, before it contacts the shot charge 24, as the shot charge 24 is relatively fluid and will cock to one side taking the form of the space between the wad 26 and the lastinserted wad 22. Any attempt to straighten the wad 26 once it is cocked to one side will result in folding the perimetral lips 44, 46, on at least one side of the wad 26, in the wrong direction, i.e., away from the mouth end 12 causing a difficulty to be mentioned below. A properly dimensioned wad 26 will tend to straighten itself upon insertion before it engages the shot charge 24, thereby forming the shot charge 24 into a disc-shaped cavity between the last-inserted wad 22 and the wad 26. For precision shooting, the ends of the shot column must be flat and define planes perpendicular to the axis of the case. Further, the perimetral lips 44, 46 must be strong enough frictionally to grip the inner surface of the case it) to hold the shot 24 in case 10 and to provide a seal between the wad 26 and the case 10. However, the diameter of the wad 26 cannot be great enough to expand the outside diameter of the case It as this will cause the shell to bind in the gun or prevent the shell from being inserted into the gun. It is for this reason, that the perimetral lips 44, 46 must be pliable. If a cardboard wad were made the same diameter as the wad 26, the cardboard wad would expand the case 10 and cause the aforementioned dimculty.

When the cartridge is fired, the powder 20 ignites producing explosive gases which propel the wads 22, the shot 24 and the wad 26 outwardly of the mouth end 12 of the case 10. The Wad 26, upon firing of the cartridge, initially resists movement by means of the frictional engagement of the perimetral lips 44, 45 to the case 10. As the wad 26 begins to move toward the mouth end 12, the perimetral lips 44, 46 initially stay stationary; and thereby, are foldingin the opposite direction with respect to the remaining portion of the wad 26 which is moving toward mouth end 12. Therefore, as the wad 26 is moved outwardly of the casing 10 the perimetral lips 44, 46 are folded toward the head end 14. The wad 26 as it is relatively rigid, will provide resistance to the expulsion of the explosive gases until it is finally propelled out of the mouth end 12; and then, the wad 26 will catch the air and deflect out of the shot path so as not to deflect the shot. If the perimetral lips 44, 46 are not uniformly folded toward mouth end 12 initially, as aforementioned, the resistanc to the expulsion of gases provided by wad 26 will be uneven causing deformation of the shot charge as it is ejected from case 10. Inasmuch as the case 10 need not be folded or crimped to retain the wad 26 and the case 10 is fabricated of plastic, the portion of case 10 adjacent the mouth end which provides a seal against the breech of the gun will not tear away or sever from the main portion of the case 10 even after several reloadings.

Once the contents of the case has been expended, a new priming cap 13 is added to case 10, a charge of powder 20 is placed in position, as are the wads 22, a

Lt new shot charge 24 and a wad 26. When this is accomplished, a new cartridge is provided which will function in the same manner as previously described.

By reason of the fact that the case it is fabricated of a polypropylene material as described above, the case it) may be reloaded many times before it becomes too Worn for further reloading. This is in distinct contrast with the conventional cardboard cases and the more recent polyethylene cases. Therefore, an appreciable economy is provided when the case it and the wad 26 are used, as the same shell case iii can be used over and over again.

While the wad 26 can be positioned at various distances from the month end 12 of the case it it has been found that it is most preferable, when using the specific case iii and wad 26 as hereinabove dimensioned, to have the wad Z6 spaced one-eighth inch from the mouth 12. This spacing provides for conventional amounts of powder 29, conventional thicknesses of wad 22, and conventional size of a shot charge 24 to be used; and still provide a sutflcient distance for the wad 26 to travel before being blown from the mouth end 12 of the case it upon firing of the cartridge. This one-eighth inch distance provides the optimum amount of resistance to the escaping gases of the cartridge without rupturing the walls of the case W.

Polypropylene, in this application, is used to define those polymers containing more than polypropylene, including but not limited to mixtures of polypropylene and other l-olefins, and the polymer of polypropylene which will yield the same results, after being formed into a shot gun cartridge as above described, as the preferred material designated by formula No. 5C21.

While there have been described above the principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A shot gun cartridge comprising a tubular case having an axis and head and mouth ends, said case being formed of heat-resistant plastic material and being of uniform diameter throughout the length thereof, said case being rounded at said mouth end, a disc-shaped closure wad having opposite end surfaces and a perimetral edge, said wad being rigid and formed of said plastic material, a groove being formed in said perimetral edge of said wad, said groove having substantially a V- shaped cross-section and defining with said end surfaces a pair of pliable perimetral lips between said groove and said end surfaces, respectively, said wad being in said case, said Wad having a diameter larger than said diameter of said case and said perimetral lips being of such a thickness to bend said perimetral lips toward said mouth end upon insertion, said lips resiliently forming a seal between said wad and said case, said wad being positioned perpendicular to said axis and adjacent to and spaced apart from said month end, a shot charge in said case contiguous with said wad, and ignition and propelling means in said case between said shot charge and said head end.

2. The shot gun cartridge of claim 1 wherein said heat-resistant plastic material is polypropylene.

3. The shot gun cartridge of claim 2 wherein said wad is 0.100 inch thick and has a diameter of .760 inch and wherein said groove has side portions which form a forty-five degree angle with said end surfaces respectively, and join at the deepest penetration of said groove into said disc which is located .020 inch from said perimetral edge; and said case has an inside diameter of .735 inch.

4. A shot gun cartridge comprising a tubular case having an axis and head and mouth ends, said case being formed of plastic material and being of uniform diameter throughout the entire length thereof, a closure wad having a perimetral edge and having opposite end surfaces of a shape similar to the cross-sectional configuration of said case, said wad being formed of said material, a groove in said perimetral edge and defining a pair of pliable perimetral lips between said groove and said end surfaces, respectively, said wad being in said case, said wad having a diameter larger than said diameter and said perimetral lips being of such a thickness to bend said perimetral lips toward said mouth end upon insertion, said lips resiliently forming a seal between said wad and said case, said wad positioned perpendicular to said axis and adjacent and spaced apart from said mouth end, said wad having a thickness which facilitates the positioning of said wad within said case, a shot charge in said case contiguous with said wad, and ignition and propelling means in said case between said shot charge and said head end.

5. A shot gun cartridge comprising a tubuar case having head and mouth ends, said case being of a flexible, self-supporting and heat-resistant material and being of uniform lateral dimensions throughout the entire length thereof, a closure wad having opposite end surfaces and a perimetral edge, said end surfaces having a shape similar to the cross-sectional configuration of said case, a

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,842,057 7/58 Dunn 102-42 2,953,816 9/60 Kidder 10295 FOREIGN PATENTS 507,285 12/51 Belgium. 1,269,200 7/61 France.

29,648 11/84 Germany.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SHOT GUN CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A TUBULAR CASE HAVING AN AXIS AND HEAD AND MOUTH ENDS, SAID CASE BEING FORMED OF HEAT-RESISTANT PLASTIC MATERIAL AND BEING OF UNIFORM DIAMETER THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH THEREOF, SAID CASE BEING ROUNDED AT SAID MOUTH END, A DISC-SHAPED CLOSURE WAD HAVING OPPOSITE END SURFACES AND A PERIMETRAL EDGE, SAID WAD BEING RIGID AND FORMED OF SAID PLASTIC MATERIAL, A GROOVE BEING FORMED IN SAID PERIMETRAL EDGE OF SAID WAD, SAID GROOVE HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY A VSHAPED CROSS-SECTION AND DEFINING WITH SAID END SURFACES A PAIR OF PLIABLE PERIMETRAL LIPS BETWEEN SAID GROOVE AND SAID END SURFACES, RESPECTIVELY, SAID WAD BEING IN SAID CASE, SAID WAD HAVING A DIAMETER LARGER THAN SAID DIAMETER OF SAID CASE AND SAID PERIMETRAL LIPS BEING OF SUCH A THICKNESS TO BEND SAID PERIMETRAL LIPS TOWARD SAID MOUTH END UPON INSERTION, SAID LIPS RESILIENTLY FORMING A SEAL BETWEEN SAID WAD AND SAID CASE, SAID WAD BEING POSITIONED PERPENDICULAR TO SAID AXIS AND ADJACENT TO AND SPACED APART FROM SAID MOUTH END, A SHOT CHARGE IN SAID CASE CONTIGUOUS WITH SAID WAD, AND IGNITION AND PROPELLING MEANS IN SAID CASE BETWEEN SAID SHOT CHARGE AND SAID HEAD END. 